Paradox [BoybandPH]

f o u r t e e n

I know it breaks your heart, movin to the city in a broke down car and four years no call, now I'm looking pretty in a bro—

Nang tumigil ang kanta, nagmadali kaming umapak sa newspaper. We're in! We folded the paper in half, then the song resumed. Paulit-ulit yun at paliit nang paliit yung papel na inaapakan namin. Napapasayaw na din ako unlike kanina na sobrang stiff ko. A remix of Closer is booming loudly and I can't help it.

I-i can't stop. So baby, pull me closer at th—

Napasinghap ako nang sumalampak ako sa katawan ni Joao, he snaked his arms around my waist.

"You might fall."

Halos mag-somersault ang puso ko sa sinabi niya. Why do I feel like it holds a different warning? Or sadyang nilalagyan ko lang yun nang ibang meaning?

I snapped out of trance nang narinig kong may natalo na. Bumitaw din naman agad si Joao and folded the newspaper without throwing me a glance. Dalawang pair na lang pala ang natira, including us. I looked down at the paper, I'm sure di na kami kasya dyan. Napasinghap ako nang tumingin siya saken.

"Pag tumigil yung music, I'm gonna carry you. Okay?"

Hindi ko alam kung ganito lang ba talaga siya ka-competitive or what. But I just shrugged.

Sa huli, natalo din kami. Hindi ko kasi sinunod ang sinabi niya. Instead, inapakan ko lang ang paa niya para magkasya kami, as I gripped on his shoulder. Yun nga lang, na-out of balance kami. I just smiled sheepishly at him, while he's shooting daggers.

Yup. Competitive, indeed.

Hindi muna ako sumali sa next game. Palusot ko'y magpapahinga muna ako. Pero si Joao? Ayun, sumali pa rin. He's obviously enjoying it kahit na pawisan na siya. He looked carefree.

My heart skipped a beat when he brushed his hair.

Damn, heart. This isn't the first time I saw him doing that, why the sudden weird internal feelings?

I jumped in surprise when someone nudged me. Natawa naman  si Dara. Enzo is already asleep kaya nakalabas na siya. She asked us what she missed and I just gave her a vague answer. Nagkwentuhan na lang kami at sandali ko ring nakalimutan ang nangyari kanina. Saglit lang din yun kasi the next thing I knew, kasali na kaming dalawa sa next game.

CALAMANSI RELAY.

So, there will be three groups. We'll just go around the chair at the other side, with a spoon in our mouth. Pero, since ilalagay namin yung calamansi sa spoon , we have to make sure na hindi siya mahuhulog. Or else, we have to go back from the start. First group na matatapos, wins.

Easy, but exciting.

I am busy cheering for my groupmates. I never thought this is gonna be so much fun! Yung tipong wala naman talagang premyo, but you can still feel the adrenaline rush. Dara is now walking back to our line. Nang makabalik, she slowly relayed the calamansi to my own spoon. When we're sure na okay na, I walked agad, eager to win the race.

My eyes is fixed on the spoon and the calamansi. When I saw the chair in my peripheral vision, I turned around and walked back to the line. When I was close enough, that's when I looked up to see who's next.

And damn, it has to be Joao.

I tried to ignore whatever weird's going on in my tummy, but what he did next didn't help.

He lowered his body down to make it easier for me to relay the calamansi. He brushed his hands lightly on my arms to steady me. Our gaze locked for a few seconds before he stood up for his turn.

Shit. Way to calm my nerves.

"Dai, nanalo tayo!" Niyugyog ako ni Dara kaya bumalik ako sa ulirat ko.

Hay nako, Stephanie. Kota ka na ngayong araw. Note to self: less caffeine intake. Nagiging magugulatin ka na lately.

After the game, nagpahinga muna kami. Yung iba naman nagkakantahan at nagsasayaw pa rin. Naglabas nang mga flavored beer si Dara para samen. I'm really not a fan of beer kasi sabi saken nang tita ko, baka lumaki daw tummy ko. Pero wala naman akong choice for now. Dara's friends and some cousins joined us, too. Joao insisted to only drink a bottle since he'll be driving later.

"Sainyo pala nagtatrabaho si Dara?" Tanong saken ni Jerrod, kaibigan niya.

"Actually, sa parents ko yun." I said.

"Wow. Humble." Pang-aasar niya, nagtawanan na lang kami.

"Really, sa Dad ko yun. Crew lang din ako like Dara."

"Model din yan, pre." Dugtong ni Dara.

Nagulat sila, others even gasped. I just shyly smiled at them. Napalingon ako kay Joao, whose sitting across me, but he's talking to the girl beside her. Correction: laughing. Laughing with the girl.

"Why am I not surprised?" Jerrod smirked.

Ugh, playboy. I'm so used to it. Growing up with Tristan ba naman, e. Yung kunwari nice guy, pero parang smooth criminal ang galawan.

Hilaw akong ngumiti kay Jerrod and umiwas nang tingin as I drink from my glass. Awkward.

Nawili ako sa kwentuhan namin. Most of them are older than us, kaya sobrang walang filter ang usapan. I don't mind. Ganito din naman kami nang barkada.

"Sus. Palibhasa, kayong mga lalaki. Di niyo kayang makuntento sa isa." Sabi nung isang babae.

"Hoy, hindi no. Nasa 21st century na tayo! Hindi lang lalaki ang nagloloko ngayon!" Depensa nang isang lalaki.

"Manloloko! Manloloko!" The guys chanted, raising their fist, as if protesting.

"Whoo! Wag ka makisali, Jong! Baka sugurin ka ng asawa mo dito!" Kantyaw nung isa,

"Oo nga! Baka sa labas ka na naman matulog!" Dagdag naman nung isa.

Napuno ng tawanan at asaran ang lahat. Bigla kong namiss ang barkada. I made another mental note to check on them later.

At around six, nagpaalam na kami ni Joao. Dara's parents insisted us to stay but we refused. Hindi kasi ako nakapagpaalam nang maayos. Kaya ayun, they gave me something I can take home for my Dad instead. Tumanggi pa ko nung una pero sabi niya, ganun daw talaga sa kanila.

"Sef. Thank you talaga ha, na-appreciate ko pagpunta niyo. For sure matutuwa yun si Enzo sa gift mo." Dara said nung nasa harap na kami nang gate.

"Wala yun, ano ka ba. Sana makabalik pa ko dito. I really love your place, e." Sabi ko sa kanya.

"Sure, anytime. Oh, yan na pala si Sir Joao." Sabi niya saken and we both looked at him. Nag-bathroom break pa kasi siya kaya nauna na kong lumabas.

"Ready?" He asked me, while playing with his keys. I nodded at him, then he thanked Dara before we headed to where his car was parked.

"Ingat kayo ha." Pahabol ni Dara.

He opened the door for me and walked around the car. I'm putting my seatbelt on when Dara walked beside the car. Yumuko siya to see us inside.

"Ingat kayo ha. Salamat ulit." Dara said. "Sir Joao, ikaw na bahala kay Sef ha."

Sinamaan ko lang siya nang tingin but she just giggled. Lasing na nga. Paulit-ulit na, eh.

"Syempre naman. Iingatan ko 'to."